MALACAÑANG ON Wednesday slammed calls by allies and loyalists of former president Rodrigo Duterte to gather in protest of his arrest, emphasizing that the government was merely enforcing the law.
Presidential Communications Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro questioned the basis of the calls for mass action and stressed that the legal process was followed in Duterte’s arrest.
“Hindi po ba ito pagpapabagsak ng gobyerno? Unang una po, may warrant of arrest. Pangalawa, may case na nai-file. Pangatlo, merong mga di umanong biktima na magsasalita patungkol sa kaso (Isn't this an attempt to overthrow the government? First of all, there is an arrest warrant. Second, there is a case filed. Third, there are alleged victims who will speak out during the trial)," Castro said in a press briefing.
“Hindi po ito basta gawa-gawa na kuwento. May mga biktima. Hindi ito pagpa-planta ng ebidensiya, hindi galing ang kaso sa Pilipinas (This is not just a made-up story. There are victims. This is not planting evidence, the case is not from the Philippine government),” she added.
Duterte was taken into custody by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) and local authorities on Tuesday in connection with alleged crimes against humanity related to his controversial war on drugs.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has been investigating the alleged deaths of thousands of individuals during Duterte's anti-narcotics campaign during his time as Davao City mayor and president.
The Palace official explained that the case against Duterte is pending before the ICC and is based on real and documented evidence during the former president's leadership.
She also questioned the logic behind the calls for a mass protest against the government's enforcement of the law.
“Ano ang magiging dahilan nila para himukin ang taumbayan na mag-alsa laban sa pamahalaan. Samantalang ang pamahalaan ay gumagawa, nagpapatupad ng batas (What will be their reason to encourage the people to revolt against the government when the government is just enforcing the law)?," she said, urging the public to reflect on the issue.
Castro also reminded Duterte's supporters that the issuance of an arrest warrant and the legal proceedings against Duterte were not a result of the current administration’s actions, but stemmed from the policies of the Duterte government.
“Bakit isisisi ang pag-issue ng warrant of arrest, ang pagpapadala sa kanya sa ICC kung siya mismo, sabi ni pangulong Rodrigo Duterte, ‘Sue me, I’ll take all the legal responsibilities of this' (Why blame the issuance of the arrest warrant, the sending of him to the ICC when he himself, President Rodrigo Duterte said, ‘Sue me, I’ll take all the legal responsibilities of this’)?,” Castro said.
“Bakit tayo ngayon umiiyak? Samantalang pinapatupad lang naman natin kung ano ang nasa batas (Why are they crying now? While we are just implementing what is in the law),” she added. (Darryl John Esguerra)
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